Learn About The First To Return Safely From Space Before Humans
Before 1960, the Soviet Union sent a number of dogs into space, but they did not return alive to our world, which sparked widespread controversy.
The incident of sending the dog "Laika" into space sparked mixed reactions. While some considered it a unique scientific achievement, some spoke of an immoral act because of the latter's death during this scientific experiment.
In the midst of the Cold War, the Soviets in 1960 set a date with history.
During that year, the two dogs, Belka and Strelka, were able to return to Earth safely, making them the first higher living organisms, large vertebrates and mammals, to survive a flight into space.
Choosing the two dogs
In the 1960s, while the Soviet Union attempted to conduct the first experiment to prove the possibility of a safe return of mammals from space, it sent dogs Lisichka and Chayka into orbit.
Unfortunately for them, the two dogs died shortly after takeoff due to a vehicle malfunction.
For this reason, Soviet experts tended the following period to provide spacecraft with ejection capsules to ensure the safe return of these organisms to Earth in the event of a technical defect during the flight.
In the following period, Soviet experts tended to search for stray dogs with certain characteristics for use in the practical field and space research.
According to these characteristics, the Soviets preferred to obtain dogs between the ages of two and 6 years, whose weight was within the limits of six kilograms and their length did not exceed 35 centimeters.
Belka and Strelka being shown to the press
With both Belka and Strelka, the Soviets found what they were looking for.
During research and experiments in laboratories, these two dogs proved their worth to accomplish the next journey into space.
Back to Earth and a gift
Then the Soviets set August 19, 1960 for this space flight.
In addition to Belka and Strelka, Soviet scientists placed a number of mice, insects, fungi and plants in the ejected capsule, trying to study the effect of space travel on these organisms.
With the launch of the spacecraft Sputnik 5 (Sputnik 5), the two dogs showed a state of fear and agitation, coinciding with the increase in the number of their heartbeats.
Upon reaching orbit, Belka and Strelka regained their composure before receiving their first meal of meat and gelatin.
After spending about 27 hours in orbit, the dogs Belka and Strelka returned to Earth, where they were captured by Soviet scientists.
A graphic of what happened with the two dogs
Thanks to this experience, the Soviet Union made sure that humans could be sent into space if the spacecraft's safety conditions were met.
In addition, Belka and Strelka received a hero's welcome in the Soviet Union, where the two were honored and allowed to spend the rest of their lives in a scientific institute.
Postage stamp featuring Belka and Strelka
Months after this trip, the dog Strelka gave birth to six puppies, whose pictures invaded international newspapers.
Simultaneously, in 1961 the Soviet Union gifted one of these puppies to US President John F. Kennedy.
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